Scott Woosley, executive director of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, is resigning. / MSHDA photo

Detroit Free Press Lansing Bureau

LANSING — The executive director of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority resigned his $135,000-a-year post Friday, one day after the Free Press published details of his lavish meal and travel expenses.

“It is with great regret that I am resigning today,” Scott Woosley said in a news release.

“I don’t want recent news reports to be a distraction from the transformative work that is happening at MSHDA and across the state.”

The Free Press report was based on records obtained by the Michigan Democratic Party under Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act. The article said Woosley was reimbursed for filet mignon and escargot, spent tens of thousands of dollars on commercial airfare and use of state planes, and once paid $1,253 to travel between two Nebraska cities in a stretch limousine.

The article noted that some of Woosley’s expense reimbursement requests already were adjusted downward by state officials or rejected outright, such as a $47.60 receipt for a “dinner” that consisted of three glasses of expensive rum.

Gov. Rick Snyder did not request Woosley’s resignation, but the decision was “one of mutual agreement,” Snyder spokeswoman Sara Wurfel said

Woosley was unapologetic about his expense vouchers when contacted by the Free Press Wednesday, saying they represented “the normal course of doing business.”

But late Thursday he issued a statement asking for a review of his expense reimbursements by the Treasury Department, promising to write a personal check to cover any excesses.

MSHDA provides financial and technical assistance through public and private partnerships to create and preserve decent, affordable housing for low- and moderate-income residents to revitalize urban and rural communities.

Jamie Karrick of Monroe, a mother of three who lived in MSHDA housing for five years and had issues with the way the agency administered the low-income housing program, said she’s glad Woosley resigned.

“His hotel bills for one night in New York are higher than a month in subsidized housing,” Karrick said.

Democrats, who had called for Woosley’s resignation and a wider audit on Thursday, said his change of heart on Friday does not go far enough.

House Minority Leader Tim Greimel, D-Auburn Hills, said he wants the auditor general to “immediately conduct a thorough investigation into travel and other spending at MSHDA, the Department of Treasury and throughout the Snyder administration.

“What about the person in the department who granted his reimbursements?” Greimel asked. “Are there other departments within state government who have similar problems?”

Snyder “appreciates all that Scott Woosley has done to further Michigan’s comeback and that’s making a positive difference for Michiganders,” Wurfel said.

Treasurer Kevin Clinton is recommending that the MSHDA board name deputy treasurer Wayne Workman as acting executive director until a permanent replacement is found.